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students. Providence has been preparing our way. Brighter days will surely dawn on you, if you will but see that the gospel is pteached to your poor.
Fifthly and Finally,
The great reason for rousing ourselves to this work is, that this is our bounden duty. To our poor the gospel ought to be preached. Christ's command has been given. We must answer to God if we neglect it. There is no possible excuse. All things are ready, if your hearts are ready. You have a duty to do as a church. Your Presbytery and your Session urge it on you. Good and wise men in this city unanimously approve. For the performance of this work, on your behalf, I offer you my services, if thought equal to their price. That price is nothing more than a place in which to operate, and a very few helpers in the work. The work is for the benefit of your poor. Yes. they are yours—they are ours. They are not like the poor in Ireland, having claims on all the world; the claim of these is on us, for we claim them as ours. They claim us, therefore, as theirs. And God knows the justice of the claim! and if we despise it God will judge us. The blood of these souls will be on us, if we neglect it any longer. We put the invincible might of Christianity against us and our institutions, if we refuse. God's curse will come not causeless. Blight on our country, blight on our church, and blight on our own souls and those of our children, will be the inevitable and direful consequence.
My Brethren, I urge on you to meet the pressing demands of this subject, for the sake of a whole continent lying in Pagan darkness and wretchedness. Ethiopia stretches forth her hands unto God and unto you. Give to her children here the gospel, and let some of them arise to carry it over to her!
I urge you to meet the subject, for the sake of the ignorant and perishing at your own door. Providence gives you a foreign missionary work in your own families. Can you turn your back on a subject which appeals to you on behalf of your own servants. Figure to your minds your dying servant, in humble but affecting tones, accusing you of having neglectedto have the gospel properly preached to him! Figure to your mind the meeting you will have with them all, before the bar of their Master and of yours!
Do what I urge on you, because the country is waking up and looks to Charleston to take the lead.
